Theft case lands woman in jail

An Aspen woman who stole more than $60,000 – and then stole again the day her supervised probation from the first offense ended – received a light jail sentence Monday. Andrea Born, 37, used her roommate’s checks to steal more than $2,000 on May 1, the day that supervision from a two-year probation term ended.She pleaded guilty to felony theft, though two other felony charges were dropped as part of the plea deal. She will serve 90 days in the Pitkin County jail on work release, a three-year suspended prison sentence, three years of probation, 100 hours of community service and restitution of $1,985.27. Born defrauded her friends and co-workers at Carol Ann Jacobson Realty and was sentenced in 2004 to 40 days in jail and more than two years probation. According to police, she spent at least $24,000 on things such as a tennis vacation in Florida, lingerie and items from Cashmere Aspen.”You are walking toward the end of the brink of your opportunities in the criminal justice system,” said 9th Judicial District Judge James Boyd. “Find a way to get your life in order, including your financial life.”Born apologized for the second theft, saying she was depressed about it and suicidal when it happened. She said she did not intend to continue stealing and that she knew it was wrong. “She’s still making excuses,” said Assistant District Attorney Gail Nichols. “This is a case of a girl who can’t live in her budget. … One of the victims in the old case called very upset. She wanted to make sure prison was coming the second time around.”Joel Stonington’s e-mail address is jstonington@aspentimes.comThe Aspen Times, Aspen, Colo.